Trigger warning: This article contains references to suicide.
As Suicide Prevention Month this September comes to a close, it’s a good time to keep the conversation going. Some members of our SLT have come together to write down their thoughts:
Daveen
Talking about suicide prevention does not always have to feel heavy or overwhelming. Sometimes it can start with something simple: checking in with someone, making time for a conversation, listening without judgement, or reminding someone that they do not have to deal with everything on their own.
We do not always know what somebody else might be carrying, and there is no perfect thing to say. What can matter is creating spaces where people feel able to talk, feel heard and know where they can turn if they need support.
Suicide prevention is not only about moments of crisis. It is also about connection, community, looking out for one another, and making conversations about mental health feel a little easier to have.
As we reach the end of September, the conversation does not have to end with the month either. Small acts of kindness, checking in, and simply being there can continue all year round.
Scarlet
As OU students, we can help build that sense of community, even when we are studying at a distance. Balancing study with work, caring responsibilities and everyday life can sometimes feel isolating, and it is not always easy to say when things are becoming too much.
Reaching out to a module mate, making someone feel welcome in a study group, or taking time to ask how they are really doing can help create room for an honest conversation. That might mean checking in again after a difficult week, including someone who seems a little quieter, or offering to talk outside a busy group chat.
If someone opens up about struggling, we do not need to have all the answers: we can listen without judgement, take their feelings seriously and help them explore support through the University or a professional service.
We can also ask what would feel helpful, rather than assuming we know what they need. Supporting others means recognising our own limits too – none of us should feel responsible for managing someone’s difficulties alone. By making care, inclusion and connection part of everyday student life, we can help build a community where asking for support feels more possible, throughout September and beyond.
Kelly
Most folks have experience with suicide, via a friend or loved one. For some, the experience is a deeply personal one that is being fought daily. I will admit I am the latter – everyday can be a struggle.
While this is Suicide PreventioMonth, we know all too well the struggle those with suicide ideation face on a daily basis. While there are resources currently available, which will be shared at the end of this article, I hope as an SLT we can provide some more for students to find their community. I know there are already ideas floating around for some sessions that could be really helpful. Watch this space!
As a personal message to those with experience of suicide themselves, please know you are not alone! I am so proud of you for getting through each day and fighting those inner demons. It is not the easiest thing to do and sometimes it can be the silliest little thing that gets you through. Everything is temporary, ride the wave and see what tomorrow brings – it could have you laughing (and who doesn’t like a laugh 😝).
Kirsten
The edge is a difficult place to step away from but is it one that many of us have faced. The darkest recesses of the mind can be a cold place, but when you look up to the light, it is always there throughout the clouds. The people we love are those rays of light that are permanent. As we think about Suicide Prevention Month, I hope we can see and reach for the sunlight amidst our times of turbulence. You are not alone; we have all been touched by darkness in life but not succumbing to it is the greatest victory a human being can have in life.
Charon
As a student studying with mental health challenges and having been close to the edge myself, there is support there for you – please do not feel alone. Reach out to your tutors, your fellow students and/or student support services. As Open SU, we have a wonderful community where you can meet other like-minded students, to talk and come together to create a sense of belonging.
We may not have all the answers, but you are never alone on your learning journey.
Jonathon
Talking about suicide prevention does not always have to feel heavy or overwhelming. Sometimes it can start with a simple gesture, such as checking in with someone, making time for them, or just listening without judgement.
There are still barriers in today's society where speaking openly about how we are feeling can sometimes be extra difficult. From the male perspective, there are many pressures to appear strong, keep things to ourselves, or even deal with problems alone. Yet asking for some help is not a weakness, and having an honest conversation with a friend, or partner, can be an important first step towards getting the support we could desperately need.
We may not always know the burdens someone else is carrying. We may be unable to relate. But we CAN help create a culture where talking about mental health feels normal, and one where people know that they are being listened to, rather than judged.
Suicide prevention is about more than responding to moments of crisis. It is also about connection, friendship, community, and looking out for each other. As September comes to an end, the conversation does not have to end. Check in with a friend, ask a colleague how they really are, or simply be willing to say, “Hey, I’m not doing so great”. Speak up, seek and provide support, and TOGETHER we will build a society of love and compassion.
Remember, that however alone you feel, there are people who want to talk with you and who want to help. Make sure to save these links to your favourites now so they are always on hand, should you or someone you know ever need them.
If you have a plan to end your life and feel you may act today, get help now – go to your local Accident and Emergency department or call 999.
Helplines and live chat support
- The Samaritans are available to talk to 24 hours a day. Calls are charged at a local rate and in an emergency they may be able to call you back. They can be contacted on 116123. For the Welsh language service, call 0808 164 0123 (7pm–11pm).
- SHOUT 85258 is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.
- C.A.L.M. (Campaign Against Living Miserably) provides information and emotional support via a helpline and website, aimed specifically at dealing with suicide and emotional distress in young men (up to the age of 35). Their helpline is 0808 802 5858 (London), 0800 58 58 58 (outside London) (5pm–midnight, Sat–Tues)
- BAYO is a UK-wide platform created for the Black community, bringing together mental health and wellbeing services, organisations, resources and community support. You can use its directory to find culturally relevant support from organisations run by and for Black communities
- Sane is a national charity aiming to improve the quality of life for people affected by mental illness. SANE runs a national, out-of-hours helpline offering specialist emotional support and information to anyone affected by mental illness (0845 767 8000: 6pm–11pm)
- LGBTQ+ Switchboard is the UK’s LGBTQIA+ support line. Call the helpline on 0300 330 0630 (10am–10pm) or on live chat via their website.
- Muslim Youth Helpline – call 0808 808 2008 (seven days a week, 4pm–10pm) or via live chat via their website.
Guides and support hubs